The agency will pay supplemental benefits from $18 to $126 for nearly 55,000 families who've qualified for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Those households have received benefits averaging $121.

The state can make extra payments because it got more federal money than anticipated. About $21 million is allocated to New Mexico.

The department encouraged low-income families to apply for the energy assistance if they haven't already submitted an application. Households can qualify if they have incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $2,289 a month for a family of three.